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Testimonials from EFT training participants 

I have had the opportunity to participate in Emotion Focused Therapy trainings with both Dr. Les Greenberg and Dr. Robert Elliott and feel deep gratitude for their authenticity, generosity, humility, and knowledge.  We as practitioners of Emotion-Focused Therapy have the unique opportunity to stand on the shoulders of these giants and their wonderful colleagues. 

Emotion-Focused Therapy, working with couples and individuals, has given me an informed pathway to clients’ underlying pain and their unmet needs and has equipped me with interventions that support the client’s innate ability to find resolution.

It is encouraging and fulfilling to witness my clients’ transformations in the room and to see the relief they experience in resolving their emotional pain. What is equally important and fulfilling for me is how it has changed my life personally and opened me up to processing my own unresolved issues. 

 

Janice Maurer, LMFT

Northern California

December 2018

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In my 15 years of clinical practice, Emotion Focused Therapy is the best model I have found that reduces suffering and truly helps clients change.  When I teach it to students and they use it during their clinical training, they are always amazed at how much relief it brings clients.  By moving from talking about emotions to experiencing emotions, EFT can help heal the wounds of developmental trauma, relationship distress, depression, and anxiety.  I cannot recommend this model enough – working with it brings me a great deal of personal satisfaction and joy, and it continually reminds me of why I wanted to be a therapist in the first place.

 

Brennan Peterson, Ph.D.

Professor, Chapman University

Marriage and Family Therapy & Psychology

October 2018

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Working within the Emotion Focused Therapy model has brought immense healing for my clients. As a therapist who sees both individuals and couples, I have the tools to be able to follow their pain, bring out their resilience and help them to face and put aside their emotional blocks or patterns. The workshops and on going consultation I receive keep me informed and enlightened as to how to practice this model with confidence. Les Greenberg, PhD has been instrumental in helping me be a better practitioner. I've combined the skills I've honed from his teachings as well as those from Sue Johnson's Emotionally Focused model as well. Working within these models has brought me professional joy. And in a big way, it's why my calendar is always full of clients. It works!

 

Michele Hahn, JD, MFT

Santa Monica Couples Therapist

October 2018

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My story with EFT started from when I was a bachelor’s student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Tehran/Iran. I was often overwhelmed by the thought of helping a diverse range of people and find solutions for all the problems in the world.

However, everything changed for me when I read a quote about EFT: “We don’t need to focus on the content; we focus on the process. The process for most problems in individuals and couples is similar.” This quote changed the way I think about therapy. When I attended two EFT trainings in California, I found out that EFT is not just an approach to therapy, it’s a way of thinking about people. To not judge people because of their problems. However, focus on people’s emotions. Emotions are global. They are like energy – they won’t disappear, but they could change from one kind to another. In this way, you can help all kinds of people around the world based on the knowledge of emotions. With empathy, a therapist is well-equipped to address the needs of a diverse range of people around the world. I not only recommend EFT to my colleagues, but to all of my friends and family to help improve their lives by “living with your emotions.”

 

Hamed Fatahian-Tehran
PAU Grad student,

January 2019

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The trainings provided by Dr. Leslie Greenberg and Dr. Robert Elliott have been outstanding and truly inspiring professionally. I feel very grateful and privileged to have had the opportunity to witness their knowledge and empathy. With a solid theoretical framework and research base, Emotion Focused Therapy provides a roadmap to working with emotions and achieving change. The connection between therapist and client based on following and guiding creates a strong bond to dive deeply into people’s most intimate concerns. Clients have commented that the times we use an EFT approach have been the most helpful for them. I have also experienced that change occurs faster and at a deeper level than with other approaches. I particularly appreciate that it is experiential, process based, and that it communicates to clients that they have the resources to change, with the help of their therapists. 

 

Ana Ribas, PhD

Clinical Psychologist in Los Angeles

October 2019

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Overall ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TRAINING that I would not hesitate to recommend to colleagues.

Nader Albadawi, PsyD

Psych Assistant in Irvin

October 2020

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A very informative and emotionally rich workshop!

Julia Galaudet, PsyD, LCSW

October 2020

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I was very impressed and am now excited to dive into more EFT learning and implementation in my own practice.

Jennifer Henshaw, LMFT

October 2020

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This training was incredibly helpful for understanding the EFT method. I will certainly be attending future trainings to deepen my understanding.

Craig  Cardamone, LMFT

October 2020

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EFT strikes me as the most structured and pragmatic framework for applying an experiential humanistic approach to therapy. EFT's use of schemes, markers, and tasks helps guide clinicians more directly into the client's experience. I knew almost nothing about EFT before this training and now I just want to steep myself in it.

Geoffrey Graham, ASW

October 2020

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The EFT training is the best training that I have had in my 20 years career as a clinical psychologist. By taking the EFT trainings I have learnt to observe the emotional process inside the client and how I can transform that process in a very gentle way. I feel that this method enables us to reach the deepest levels of human nature. When I started to use EFT skills in therapy sessions, my clients say that they feel so well understood, accepted, and feel so much warmth. I regret that I did not know about the EFT approach earlier. Thank you very much!

Lina Kalinauskiene, Phd

Vilnius, Lithuania

October 2022

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I have had the fortune to take two workshops hosted by SoCal institute of EFT with Dr. Robert Elliot (EFT Level 1 and the Advanced Empathic Attunement Training). Both times I came away with a new embodied understanding of therapeutic empathy and attunement, as well as a wealth of practical knowledge on how to apply EFT with my clients. With the emphasis on experiential practice in these trainings, I also gained a stronger understanding of EFT tasks from the inside out and felt better able to resonate with my clients' experiences of the therapy. I am so grateful for this training institute and the community Ladan is actively creating. I would recommend these trainings to any students or providers who want to learn Emotion Focused Therapy! 

Kati Lear, PhD

Sacramento, California

May 2023

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I wanted to send my deepest regards to you, Robert, and Christina for facilitating the EFT training level one by Professor Robert Elliott, a fantastic training, which was by far the best training I have attended in my career as a therapist so far. There is so much that I gained from the experience that I am admittedly still stewing on. I already see myself practicing some of the skills I have learned in my sessions with clients and have been incorporating feedback I received as well. It was so meaningful, and I am so honored to have been part of it. I definitely see myself attending future EFT trainings.

Sara Boblak, AMFT

San Pedro, California

May 2023

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I have had the honor of learning EFT training level one and level two by Dr. Robert Elliott, and the trainings were simply amazing and experiential. I have learnt so much about the EFT language, formulations, skills and even, the self awareness of a therapist in slowing down during the skills practice. EFT Approach to me, is a very elegant and compassionate here and now process and through the trainings, I have gained so much for my personal and professional journey. I really appreciate all the trainers for being so candid and humble despite being pioneers of the EFT approach. Thank you so much once again!

Choong Ying, registered social worker

Singapore 

December 2023

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The Advanced Empathy Training provides an in-depth look at empathic responding in psychotherapy, highlighting the complexity of empathic responses in the therapeutic process and ways empathy can foster the therapeutic relationship even when it doesn’t “land.” Robert Elliott is exquisite as a trainer – a true master therapist. This is an
invaluable training for all experiential practitioners who prize emotion in psychotherapy, including both early-career and seasoned clinicians.


Dr. Shauna Randhawa, R.Psych. (#2691)
Clinic Owner/Director
Oceanside Psychology Group
Burnaby, BC, Canada

​September 2024

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Learning EFT has been a crucial step in my personal and professional development. I am truly inspired by the EFT therapists' kindness, curiosity, genuine presence and above all resilience in being patient, never give up, and always ready to give up their own agenda and stay open to working with the client’s evolving needs. 

Zhi LI 李智

Psychologist  (NIP-223561)

Founder of Access to Health

Netherlands

September 2024

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Certification Process Recognized by ISEFT

​​​

There are 5 levels of recognition and also the possibility of certification.

  • Level A: Completion of Basic EFT Training

  • Level B: Completion of EFT Supervised Practice

  • Level C: Certified EFT Therapist

  • Level D:  Supervisor

  • Level E: Trainer 

For Description and details of each level please check the EFT Certification and resources page

Counseling for Depression by
Dr. Robert Elliott
A short story about emotions
A short story about
self-criticism
Unfinished business and unresolved grief

We need to live in mindful harmony

with our feelings, not attempt to

control them.

___  Les  Greenberg  ___

Therapists Who Took Trainings at SoCal Institute of EFT

Ladan H. Safvati, LMFT, ATR 

Certified EFT Therapist & Supervisor

Level one, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019

Facilitator at level one 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Level two, 2013, 2018, 2021, Facilitator 2023

Level three, 2021

Jessica Borelli, PhD

Level one, 2017

Level two, 2018

Level three, 2021

Hila Madani, PsyD

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Level three, 2021

Marilyn Talmage, LMFT

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Level three, 2021

Sandy Sayan-Pedram, LMFT

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Level three, 2021

Siyu Peng, LMHC

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Level three, 2021

Mary Dousette, PhD

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Level three, 2021

Zeinab Bagheri, MA

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Level three, 2021

Fatemeh Fazelisani, PhD

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Level three, 2021

Dominique Walterson, MS

Level two, 2021

Level three, 2021

Francisco Beisterveld

Level three, 2021

Sahar Darvishskandari

Level three, 2021

Judith Ayre

Level three, 2021

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Yamonte Cooper, Ed.D., LPCC

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Brannan Peterson, PhD, LMFT

Level one, 2017

Level two, 2018

Janice Maurer, LMFT

Level one, 2018, 2019

Level two, 2018

Michael Pariser, PsyD

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Lital Shavarts, PsyD

Level one, 2017

Level two, 2018

David Kyle Bond, PhD

Level one, 2017

Level two, 2018

Patricia Taylor, LMFT

Level one, 2017

Level two, 2018

Christopher Walling, PsyD

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

David Laramie, PhD

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Tina Dahlenburg, LMFT

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Stephani Kirschner, LMFT

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Randy Gottlieb, LMFT

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Jonathan Mueller, PhD

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Heidi Mattila, PhD

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Nasrin Barkhordari, PsyD, LMFT

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Alexandra Block, MA

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Kathryn Purdy, LMFT 

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Beth Bernholtz, PhD, PsyD

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Deryl Goldenberg, PhD

Level one, 2017

Level two, 2018

Michelle Hann, LMFT

Level one, 2017

Level two, 2018

Gerin Gaskin, MA

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2018

Sherise Prince, PsyD

Level one, 2017

Level two, 2018

Ann Gilbert, LMFT, ATBC

Level one, 2017, 2019

Level two, 2021, 2022

Terry Akhtarzad, LMFT

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2021

Natalie Pujo, PsyD

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Hamed Fatahian, MA 

Level one, 2018, 2019, 2020

Level two, 2021

Erjing Cui, LMHC

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Ana Ribas, PhD

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Adrienne Kijak, LCSW, ATR

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Sarah Johnson, PhD

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Ross Phillips, LMFT

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Jennifer Cha, MFT

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Salma Shah, MFT

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Maxine de Luna, MFT 

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2021

Jennifer Henshaw, LMFT

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Xiaomio Li, PhD

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Trevor Olsen, PhD

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Tracy Hefter, PhD

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Julia Galaudet, PsyD., LCSW

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Itzuri Hurtado, LMFT

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Chiehyu Liao, MA

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Parichehr MahdiAbadi, MD

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Samaneh Zaryabi Toosi, MS

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Hamidreza Maghsoodi, PhD

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Elizabeth Seidita, ASW

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021, 2023

Craig Cardamone, LMFT

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Peter Van Burken, MS

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2021

Joshua Ventura, PhD

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2021

Michelle Kelekota, MS

Level two, 2021

Shaniya Haghigat, MS

Level two, 2021

Babak Sadri, MS

Level two, 2021

Cornelia Andora

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Sarah Bomatter

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Gala Connell

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2022

Tim Day

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2022

Joel Freedman

Level one, 2018

Level two, 2022

Amy Gustafson

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

David Eshleman

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2022

Inga Havers

Level two, 2022

Mark Hollingshead

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Bingjie Huang

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2022

Immaculate Antony

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Juri Jeon

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2022

Yueming Jia

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Lina Kalinauskiene

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Kelly Kazmierski

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Margaret Koon

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Eric Lindquist

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Po Yan Lo

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2022

Corina Lopez

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Robert McDonnell

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2022

Jennifer Moudahi

Level one, 2020

Level two, 2022

Si Hui Pang

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2022

Shauna Randhawa

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

John Roche

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Emmanuel Romero

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2022

Vivian Qiu

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Shelley Simmons

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Thomas Skotidas

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Patricia Smiley

Level one, 2019

Level two, 2022

Sarah Smith

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Brock Trotter

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2022, 2023

Brad Watkins

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2022

Ryan O'Farrell

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2023

Sepideh Nahavandi

Level one, 2021

Level two, 2023

Nicole Notarfonzo

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2023

Pirayeh Shaban

Level one, 2022

Level two, 2023

Andrew Stover

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

Choong Ying

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

Curtis Dueck

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

Mike Karakashian

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

Tiina Saarinen

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

Alistair Gordon

 Level one, 2021

Level two, 2023

Camilla Graziani  

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

Foad Hassanzadeh

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

Helen Hargreaves

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

Judit Darvas   

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

Mahdi Khas

Level two, 2023

Mervi Koivisto

 Level one, 2021

Level two, 2023

Yesim Celik

Level one, 2023

Level two, 2023

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EFT Level one, 2017

Paul Howard, PsyD                                                 

Jennifer Codega, LMFT

Kathy Barnum, LPC

Armineh Gorgian, LMFT

Abeer Othman, LMFT

Mark Frankle, LMFT

Debi Frankle, LMFT

Bruce Chambers, LMFT

Debbie Cohen, LMFT, ATR

Brittany Mustin, LMFT

Gina Cantrell, LMFT

Michelle Colarusso, LCSW

Jodie Spanos, LMFT

Adam Brockman, LPC

Shellie Gravitt, LMFT

Level two, 2018

Debby Krahe, PsyD

Darin Bergen, PsyD

Bart Rubin, PhD

Level one, 2018

Diana Menendez, PsyD

Hedieh Azadmehr, PhD

Ginger Schwartz, PsyD

Liron Gabay Samara, LMFT

Alani Van, LCSW

Ruth Kleast, LCSW

Tania Dow, LMFT

Cecily Krumholz, PsyD

Level one, 2019

Cai Yitong, MA

Yang Yu, LMHC

Jilla Behnad, LMFT

Namhee Lim, MBA

Teresa Gamez, MA student

Veiss Zandieh, LMFT, LPCC

Yishan Xu, PhD

Stephanie Rosen, PsyD

Erin Van Voorhies, PsyD

Ellis Franklin, LCSW

Allison Rudnick, LMFT

Ariana Penalba, LMFT

Laura Worthington, LMFT

Alexandra Anguiano, MFT

Nicolette Pyne, MFT 

Anna Cancellieri, MFT

Pam Dyer, MFT 

Gelisa Gonzaga, MFT 

Kelly Royere, MFT 

Millisa Morrow, MFT 

Kyong Yi, LCSW

Liora Pourati, LMFT

Florence Ahlzadeh, LCSW

Angela Bothwell, MFT 

Nicole Reilly, MFT 

David Perlman, PsyD

Sarah Taylor, LMFT

Victoria Shirazi, PsyD

Mitra Zaeri, 

Level one, 2020

Mary Clark, LMFT

Olivia Einbund, MA, AMFT

Geoffrey Graham, MSW

Arpee Simonian, LMFT

Nader Albadawi, PsyD

Jessica Aguilar, LMFT

Michael Rollin, MD

Robert McDonnel, MA

Bruce Kirby, MSW

Katarina Blom, PsyD

Maura Amaral, LMFT

Level one, 2021

Howard Scott Warshaw, MA

Borja Alonso Arroya, MA

Apiradee Poungjit, MA

Mark Buckingham,MA

Erika Michell, MA

Yiling Zhang, PhD

Karen Worthington, MA

Genevieve Rix, MA

Maria Holkenfeldt, MA

Melissa Glass, MA

Vanessa Groff, MA

Rachelle Michaud, MA

Veronica Parker, MA

Margaux Broux, MA

Emile Lopez, MA

Sara Taveira, MA

Jason Katz, MA

Rinat Kass, MA

Rieko Ward, MA

Zhansaya Akhmetsadyk, MA

Kristen Rattray, MA

Alexis DaFonseca, PhD

Zoe Chen, MA

Daniel Parker, MA

Phoebe Hutut, MA

Rebecca Walker, MA

Sue Hymus, MA

Fiona El Bassuni, MA

Chloe Walls, MA

Ryan Berkompas, MA

Gareth King, MA

Danita Tanner, MA

Patrick Schaafsma, MA

Level one, 2022

Jared Boot

Zhuo Chen

Wendy Coloma

Kyle Dickerson

Daiva Gaidukeviciene

Kelli Hamilton

Nicholas Hebert

Kimberly Hoos

Jamie Johnson

Robyn Kozak

Brittany Lasanen

Andrea Milwidsky

Genovaite Petroniene 

Alicia Saporito

Janet Selander

Narayan Singh

Parker Stickland

Nirupa Thanabalasingam

Michael Tugendhat

Ashwini Vishwanathan

Xiaorui Zhu

Level one, 2023

Alexandra Strait 

Amy Waterman

Ana Cancian 

Andrea Carolina Benites

Beverly Fredborg 

Catherine Reza

Chris Minassian 

David France 

Gabrielle Baker 

Hannah Maguire 

Jamisyn Atlas

Justin Wilson 

Kati Lear 

Laura Mullikin

Liat Porat 

Lisa Page 

Lucia Martincekova 

Lyssandra Sears 

Minji Yang 

Rachael Maher

Sara Boblak 

Soyoung Park

Tao Liu 

Terhi Tammi 

Tiina Paju 

Tyler Hakomori 

Yashodhan Karandikar 

Level one, 2024

Anureet Gill

Asya Rachitsky

Beatrico Loo

Cathy Notardonzo

connor Schell

Cristina Pena-Vargas

David Stroud

Doven Brezner

Elilia Moreira

Fang Shiyuan

Georgia Spiliot

Karen Lewis

lLauren Vu

Nadine Durbach

Nazanin Zarei

Nga-Sum Mabel Cheng

Onur Guler

Pooman BirKaur

Pulkit Chavola

Robert Roan

Sadaf Kafiabadi

Stephanie Yeatts

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